Sensitive mouthed horse!

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enchantedunicorn

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I have been through various bits with my boy and after a while all of them seem to rub inside his mouth - I can tell he's in pain so I have stopped riding him to let it recover. None of the bits he has had are aggressive and are average width, I try to ride him with a gentle contact to avoid this. I had the dentist out very recently and no issues at all - i don't really want him bit-less as he is only young/green and can be quite strong at times especially jumping and hacking out. I was wondering if anybody could recommend me any kinder bits for sensitive mouthed horses - I have considered a flexi rubber pelham?

Thanks
 
My son has just bought a similar horse, and we have had very similar problems. I have had a lot of help from 'the bit bank' -my sons horse is an Irish Draught with a big fat sensitive tongue so a ported bit has helped. When my son first got her she would not take the bit in her mouth at all- evaded it like crazy- clamped jaw, raised head (at 17hh, this was a real pain!), lowered head etc etc. We wrapped the bit in sealtex tape to prevent any teeth banging and with perseverence, patience and repitition have seen improvement. Bitless was not an option for us either for the same reasons. The Happy tongue bit by bomber bits is very good- have a look in his mouth, if his tongue pokes out between the teeth maybe his tongue is too big/fat for a straight bit and a ported/thinner one may help. The bit bank are very helpful and can advise the most comfortable bit for your horse.
 
Absolutely do NOT use a rubber bit. Horses tend not to salivate in these - and you know what it's like to have rubber drawn across lightly damp skin - think a toddler standing on your shin in wellies! You need a metal bit with something in the middle to encourage her to salivate and "feel" the bit. Horses used to be broken in bits with keys - they'd be bridled up and the keys would allow them to have a really good fiddle with their tongue and figure it all out.
 
NS do a nice team up bit which is really thin and angled which I use now. My mare came to me unknown and I tried a KK French snaffle initially and she hated it. Looking at her mouth it showed me that she had a huge tongue in a tiny mouth so I popped her in a Myler comfort ported snaffle which improved things tremendously. Now she's in the NS team up which she loves, she picks up a good contact and behaves perfectly in, oh! And she's in a Micklem bridle too and she's happy to be bridled and ridden whereas before she wasn't.

Good luck!
 
The rubbing is on the inside of his mouth - he seems to move the bit around alot in his mouth and tries to get his tongue over it aswell
 
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Suggests that the bit is too low in the mouth and too wide. Try higher in the mouth and perhaps a ported bit or a curved snaffle for his big tongue.
 
maybe worth a thin metal bit wrapped with bit wrap which will soften the bit, it bulks the bit out a bit :D hence using a thin metal one. May also be worth trying a mullen mouth style as a jointed bit may be moving around too much. Also echo check where the bit is sitting in the mouth
 
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